A License to Love: Change Clocks and Ensure Your Dog’s License is Up-to-Date
As people plan to spring their clocks forward this weekend for daylight saving time, we're encouraging dog owners to spring into lifesaving action for their pets by ensuring their dog’s license is up to date. During our A License To Love campaign, we're waiving all fees, including late fees, for new or renewed one-year dog licenses for pet owners who live within San Diego Humane Society’s jurisdiction (Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista). To receive a free one-year license, pet owners must complete the licensing process using the promo code FREELICENSE by March 25, 2022.
To become licensed, dogs must have a California-approved rabies vaccination. Not only are rabies vaccinations an effective animal and public health measure, they are especially important in San Diego County, where potential exposure to rabies from wildlife is a significant concern. The primary rabies vaccination is good for one year. The second vaccination is administered one year later. Subsequent (or booster) vaccinations are valid for one to three years, depending on the recommendation of your veterinary care provider.
Proof of alteration (i.e. spay/neuter) is not required for dogs to become licensed, but will lower the cost of a licensing fee by 50% or more when regular fees apply after March 25. Dogs adopted from San Diego Humane Society already come with a free one-year license.
Licensing can be completed online, in person or by mail with the promo code FREELICENSE. To complete the licensing process, or to access information about low-cost vaccine clinics and spay/neuter services, visit sdhumane.org/license.
“When you change your clocks for daylight saving time and change your batteries in your smoke detectors, it’s a good idea to also check your dog’s license and make sure it is up-to-date,” said San Diego Humane Society Chief of Humane Law Enforcement Bill Ganley. “Whether this is a first-time license or a renewal, making sure pets are properly identified with a license, tags and microchipping is the best way to reunite them with their families if they become lost or stolen. It’s not just the law to have your dog vaccinated against rabies and licensed, it protects your pet in so many ways.”
Benefits of Licensing
- Licensed pets are more likely to be reunited with their owners if they become lost.
- A license provides proof of a pet’s rabies vaccination and of ownership.
- Licensed dogs receive a Pet Hub tag, which comes with a QR code that can store phone numbers, medical information and a secondary emergency contact, like a veterinarian.
- Dog’s with a valid license receive a free ride home by San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Officers if found stray — skipping a trip to the shelter and reducing reclaim fees.
The owner of every dog over the age of 4 months is required by law to ensure the pet is properly licensed and currently vaccinated against rabies. A license must be purchased within 30 days after the dog reaches the age of 4 months, within 30 days of acquiring the dog, or within 30 days after entering the jurisdiction.
Published: March 10, 2022
